3.-SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF IMPROVED TYPES OF VESSELS IN THE MARKET FISHERIES, WITH NOTES ON BRITISH FISHING STEAMERS. BY J. We COLLINS. A*-INCREASE IN THE FRESH-FISH TRADE. At this time no featureof the American fisheries is more noticeable than the increase in the demand for fresh fish in our markets. This is especially the case so far as the marine species are concerned. With improved methods of refrigeration, and a continuous increase in the facilities for inland transportation, it is possible to place before the consumer, even in places remote from the groat markets, fish that are as fresh, delicate in flavor, and firm in texture as they were when taken from sea, lake, or river. Thus, while there will doubtless always be a call for Wrtain kinds of salted fish, the tendency of the hour is to use a larger quantity of fresh-fish food and less of the salted article. And whatever tends to place fresh fish before the consumer in the best and most attractive condition will aid in increasing the demand for this kind of food and lead to an enhancement of profits to the producer. In view of the rapid growth of population in tho United States, it is reasonable to suppose that the (‘fresh- fish trade” will grow to proportions not yet anticipated if such attention is given to it as its increasing importance seems to demand. But while the fresh-fish business has derived many advantages from improve- ments in methods, increase in population and in facilities for transportation, much yet remains to be done in order to secure that full measure of success which is de- sirable. The important, question at this time is that of securing rapid transportation from the fishing grounds to the markets, or the adoption of other means whereby fish may reach the point of shipment, and ultimately the consumer, without deterioration, even when taken far out at sea. Besides the other benefits ’which may accrue as a result of improved sea transpor- tation, au additional advantage will be secured to the market fisherman, inasmuch as he can extend his operations to more distant localities, where fish are abundant, but where he has not heretofore been able to go because of the impracticability of carry- ing his catch in good condition from thore to market. It is then evident that the prosperity and development of thia industry are more dependent upon the adoption of new types of vessels and boats than upon anything else. Indeed, the maximum of success in the fisheries can not be reached until the 175 176 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. highest results have been attained in the direction of securing vessels that are best adapted to the special work they are built to perform. If safety, speed, and special fitness can be obtained at a reasonable expeuditure, then much may he gained, though it is to be expected that local conditions will demand very dissimilar types. B.-SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF STEAMERS IN THE NEW ENG LAND MARKET FISHERY. Allusion has already been made to the increase in the market fishery of the United States, but in no other locality is this more strikingly noticeable than in New England. Twenty-five or thirty years ago a few comparatively small vessels aid open boats found employment in fishing for market on the grounds near the coast. This fishery was then confined largely, if not exclusively, to the winter season. At the present time fleets of the largest, swiftest, and best fishing schooners in the United States find em- ployment from early autumu till spriug, and a somewhat less number throughout the year, in supplying the mark& of the principal ports of Massachusetts, New Hamp- shire, and Maine, among which Boston, Gloucester, Portsmouth, and Portland are the most important. Although mamy, if not the majority, of the vessels above alluded to are uot of the most modern type, the advautage to bc derived from the employmelit of the swiftest and most sea-worthy vessels has been so manifest that a constant change is now going on in the market fleet. There has been a marked improvement recently in the sail- ing vessels engaged in the Atlantic sea fisheries, and special attentioil has been given to the attainment of the maximum of speed, due chiefly to the requirements of the market fishery. With several eminent naval architects in the field, as designers of fishing Echoon- era, it is not surprising that 8ome of the latest additions to the New England iuarket fleet should be so highly specialized as to make it apparent that the limit of swift- uess has been pretty nearly reached in the conbtruction of sailing vessels. Although t,he cost of building such schooners is somewhat increased in proportion to tlieir car- rying capacity, the additional profit to be obtained by getting the catch to market in the briefest possible time has been so fully demonstrated that comparatively little is thought of a considerable increase in expenditure, if a vessel cau be obtained which will outstrip all rivals. As has been intimated, the success in the direction of improving the speed and 8ea going qualites of the schooners has been very gratifying, and thcro is reason to suppose that the introduction of the very best sailing vessels will be rapid. Neverthe- less, it is a fact too well known to admit of discussion .that even the swiftest sailing vessels may be, and often are, seriously delayed by calms and head winds. Therefore, when they have to operate on distant fishing grounds, their catch may frequently become more or less deteriorated before they reach market. The result of such delay and injury to the quality of the fish is that the fisherman receives less for his labor, and ;L bad iufluence is exerted on the trade, since the consumer gets an inferior article of food, mhich tends to lessen the demand. While this may not occur often enough in some localities to seriously handicap the fisheries, it is, nevertheless, a factor of such great importance in most regions that it is worthy of serious consideration, and whatever tends to decrease uncertain- Bull. U. S. F. C. 1888.-(To face page 176.) Collins. Fishing Vessels PLATEXVI. PLANS OF FISHING CUTTER. (Scale: 4 inch to 1 foot.) DESIGNEDBY J. w. COLLINS. HALF BREADTH PLAN. BODY PLAN SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING FISHING VESSELS. 177 ties of this kind will, beyond question, add to the prosperity of the business, providing the expense incurred is not disproportionate to the advantages to be obtained. In view of what has been stated, it seems timely to consider the question of util- izing steam as s motive power on the vessels engaged in the off+-shoreAtlantic market fishery. If a swift and thoroughly sea-worthy screw steamer-one that can keep the 8ea and make passages in heavy weather-can be built and operated at a compara- tively moderate expense, there is reason to believe that such a vessel would prove successfuI in the market fishery north of Cape Cod. It is true that experiments have been made in the direction of employing screw steamers in the winter haddock fishery and that the results obtained were not satiu- factory. But those trials have proved nothing excepting that the vessels were entirely unfit for the winter fishery. Indeed, they had been built for the menhaden fishery, which is prosecuted in Rummer, and by necessity in comparatively smooth watm. What seems to be needed for the market)fishery, if steam is to be employed, is a type of vessel that, while being of moderate sieo, will be swift and sea-worthy; is compara- tively inexpensive to build and run, and will have: at the same time, sufficient carrying ' capacity to enable it to bring into market as many fish as it is liable to take. The small screw steamers which are employed from England and Scotland in the longline or trawl-line fishery, the beam-trawl Gshery, and the drift-net fishery (and have been introduced alsolnto other European countries), appear to possess the qual- ifications that may be required in a vessel to adapt it to the market fishery on the Atlantic coast of the United States. These steamers, though moderate in dimensions, are specially designed for sea service in all weathers. They are safe, swift under steam, and, in order that their expenditure of coal may be kept down to the minimum, they are provided with a considerable sail area. When cruising on the fishing grounds, sails alone can be used, when there is wind, and they serve as an important auxiliary power when making passages. Appended are descriptions and plans of some of the best types of European fishing steamers. It is believed by ths writer that similar vessel^), modified so as to meet local requirements, would be well adapted to engage in the New England market fishery. The question of building such vessels of wood, iron, or steel, is one that must be necessarily left entirely to the judgment of those who should hare them constructed. In England iron is generally preferred, for the reason that it is so much more durable than wood. But, on the other hand, the Scotch fishermen have shown a preference for wooden vessels, though it is probable that they, also, will prefer iron instead as soon as they consider the period of experimentationhas been passed. It will doubtletla be found feasible to introduce on steamers the system of refrig erating fish by use of ammonia, and :It very small expense, since all the motive power required could be furnished by the engines without any material increase in cost.